2022 Data Sheet

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Many union members earn collectively bargained pay and contributions to their health insurance and pension plans from the sales and licensing of content they help create. That’s why, while not typically the copyright holder, the theft and unlicensed use of copyrighted content threatens these middle class professionals’ economic security and more than five million jobs in the creative sector.

Outdated U.S. copyright law encourages the stealing of content and theft of creative professionals’ pay and benefits

Congress enacted Section 512 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) in 1998 in the Internet’s infancy. Today, due to a string of ill-conceived court decisions and advancements in technology, Section 512 enables the largest companies in the world to build businesses that profit from unlicensed use of copyrighted works without compensating their owners or contributing to the pay, health care, or retirement security of creative professionals. 

In today’s digital era, creative professionals need strong copyright protections to earn a fair return on their work and ensure continued job opportunities

Through legitimate sales and streams of creative works, Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) performers earned $1.11 billion (at an average amount of $229 per residual check), International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) behind-the-scenes professionals earned $510 million for their pension and health plan, the Directors Guild of America (DGA) distributed $460 million to directors and directorial team members, and writers, including members of the Writers Guild of America East (WGAE), earned $569 million in 2021. Revenue from authorized sales and licensing also funds the projects of tomorrow that these unions’ members count on for future jobs. Section 512 threatens present and future compensation – once unlicensed content is available on the internet, creative professionals suffer financial harm. Congress must reform Section 512 to ensure big tech can no longer use the law as a shield to avoid liability for a business model that profits at the expense of creative professionals.

Contact DPE Assistant to the President/Legislative Director Michael Wasser, mwasser@dpeaflcio.org, for more information.